While the rest of the country rejoiced with the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) winners in their week-long trophy tour, Julius Malema dampened the mood with his recent rant, blasting the Springboks as an emblem of apartheid.
Julius Malema dampens rugby fever with Springboks rant
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader sparked controversy on Sunday when, during an address, he positioned the Springboks as a relic of apartheid, calling for a rebranding that aligns with the nation’s democratic values.
Speaking at the Gauteng EFF Provincial Ground Forces Forum in Johannesburg, Malema expressed his lack of support for the team’s current emblem and colours, which he feels continue to reflect the apartheid era’s painful legacy.
His stance is not against the sport itself but against the symbols that he perceives as upholding white supremacy.
“You can be part of Amabokoboko, I will remain with Bafana Bafana until it is brought back into action by the government of the EFF,” he said.
Malema’s call to action is for the national team to adopt a new name, colours, and emblem that genuinely represent all facets of South Africa’s democracy and the diverse interests of its people.
In his rant, he asserted that rugby is not exclusively a white man’s sport, noting that it has been played by various communities across South Africa, including in the Eastern Cape, long before its appropriation by the Afrikaners.
The EFF leader also took issue with the Springboks’ recent visit to the farm of South African billionaire Johann Rupert, whom he labelled as the “Afrikaners President,” suggesting that the team’s visit symbolised the very white supremacy he condemns.
The broader context of Malema’s critique lies in the disparity between support for teams like the Springboks and the national football team, Bafana Bafana.
Malema argued that while predominantly “white” teams receive sponsorship and thrive, Bafana Bafana suffers from neglect.
While Malema’s rant spurred mixed reactions on social media, elsewhere, the RWC winners kicked off their recovery hiatus following an exhausting week of celebrations, which concluded in East London, on Sunday.
Neither SA Rugby nor the Springboks have issued a response to Malema’s fiery rant.